NEET Protest
Supreme Court orders Delhi govt to treat protesters injured by pellet guns during NEET march
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Delhi government to ensure proper medical treatment for protesters who were injured by pellet guns during the July 20 Parliament march over the NEET paper-leak issue, media reports said.
The order came while hearing a petition seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns by police during crowd-control operations.
Supreme Court's direction
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana directed the Delhi government to provide appropriate treatment to all injured protesters, with particular attention to those who sustained pellet gun injuries.
Petition by former IB official
The court was hearing a plea filed by former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Special Director and former Central Information Commissioner (CIC) Yashovardhan Azad.
Azad sought a complete ban on the use of pellet guns, arguing that they were controversially used by police during the July 20 protest march to Parliament over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Court on pellet guns
While hearing the matter, the Supreme Court observed that pellet guns are meant to be used only in exceptional circumstances.
However, the bench said they cannot be declared illegal unless the governing rules and regulations authorising their use are amended.
'Can't lathicharge people just because they are protesting'
The Supreme Court earlier this week strongly rebuked the Delhi Police over its crackdown on protesters, reaffirming that the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental constitutional guarantee.
In sharp remarks, the apex court observed that a police lathicharge cannot be justified merely because people are protesting.
The observations came while the court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the police action during the CJP-led Parliament march on July 20.
Delhi Police has maintained that more than 100 personnel were injured in the violence and clashes that erupted during the protest in the national capital.
Parliament March Triggers Violence
Dramatic scenes unfolded during the Parliament march on the streets of Delhi on Monday as police lathi-charged thousands of protesters, leaving several demonstrators injured.
Police also fired tear gas shells, barricaded roads and detained protesters as a massive confrontation erupted in one of the most significant anti-government protests in recent years.
According to reports, several police personnel were also injured during the clashes, which disrupted normal life across the city.
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